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Mammals in Douglas-Fir National Monument

There are many mammals within the proposed National Monument, and several others which may be in the proposed Monument. None of them are easy to see. Some of them are pictured below.

elk 1 graphic

Photo: IndigoBunting/Pixabay

elk 2 graphic

Photo: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Roosevelt Elk is the largest animal that might be seen within the Doug. It also may be the only animal that might be regularly scheduled for viewing within the Doug. Elk are sometimes to be seen early in the morning in winter at the meadow along the Walton Ranch Trail. The Roosevelt elk may grow to up to 10 feet in length and stand up to five and a half feet tall. Roosevelt elk bulls may weigh between 700 and 1,100 pounds. Female elk weigh between 575 and 625 pounds.

deer 1 graphic

Photo: Jessica Weinberg Mcclosky,
National Park Service

deer 2 graphic

Photo: Ronald French,
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
There are three species of deer in Oregon, but probably only one species is regularly seen in the Doug: the Columbian Black-tailed Deer. Mule deer are only regularly reported east of the Cascade Range summit, so they are not included here. Interestingly, Mule Deer may actually be the same species as the Black-tailed deer. ODFW says: the black-tailed deer is smaller and darker, and frequents dense, early seral forest communities. The most distinguishing feature of the black-tailed deer is the tail, which is not as long or wide as that of the white-tail, but much larger than that of the mule deer.
ODFW continues: "Because of the differences in size, color, marking, ecology, and behavior, and because of the voluminous information available for the two races, we decided to treat them separately. Nevertheless, we emphasize that despite these differences, the races readily integrate and produce offspring."
The other Oregon species is the White-tailed Deer, which is definitely not in the Doug.

bear 1 graphic

Photo: TheOtherKiev/Pixabay

bear 2 graphic

Photo: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Black Bear is the largest predator in the Doug. It is important to remember that Black Bears are omnivors and will eat any kind of meat they can get a hold of. Visitors to the woods should always exercise care if they encounter a bear, but DO NOT RUN from a bear. Back away carefully.

cougar 1 graphic

Photo: Pixabay

cougar 2 graphic

Photo: no-longer-here/Pixabay
The Mountain Lion, or Cougar, is the other large predator of the Doug. Mountain Lions may be more common in the Doug than bears, but they may be less likely to be seen. As with bears, if you see a Cougar, don't run from them, but make yourself as large as possible, and back away slowly.

fisher 1 graphic

Photo: K. Bacher,
National Park Service

fisher 2 graphic

Photo: US Fish and Wildlife Service
The Fisher is the largest of what you might call the weasel type animals, although it is much bulkier and less elongated. Males are up to 47 inches in total length and weigh up to 13 lbs. Females are smaller, up to 37 inches long and weigh up to 6 pounds.
Fishers were once native to the Cascades, and are making a comeback, including occasionally in the area of the Doug. They are a state and federal endangered species and are found in old-growth forests. The actual or potential presence of Fishers is an important factor in the evaluation of activities and projects in the Forest.

marten 1 graphic

Photo: Eric Johnston/Pixabay

marten 2 graphic

Photo: origin not certain
The next largest weasel family member is the Marten or Pine Marten. Martin are smaller than the Fisher, but larger than the long-tailed weasel or the short-tailed weasel (aka ermine). Pine Martens are, as the name suggests, arboreal hunters, including in Douglas-fir forests.

wolverine 1 graphic

Photo: Andrea Bohl/Pixabay

wolverine 2 graphic

Photo: Antranias/Pixabay
The Wolverine is the largest mustelid. It is rare everywhere, so your chances of seeing one is small at best. It is included here over less rare mammals because of its connection to the Doug. One of the few places in western Oregon that ODFW reports the Wolverine having been seen is on Three Fingered Jack.

north american beaver graphic

Photo: National Park Service

North American Beaver
The largest rodent in North America, beavers are considered a "keystone" species, because their presence alters whole environments; their building of dams and lodges creates new wetlands.  They live in streams and lakes that have access to aspen, birch, poplar and willow.  Their diet includes water plants and grasses, mosses, fruit, and berries.  The state mammal of Oregon, often persecuted but now recovering.

mountain beaver graphic

Photo: Northwest Wildlife Online

Mountain Beaver
A slow-moving rodent more closely related to squirrels than beavers, about a foot long with a stubby tail.  They are nocturnal vegetarians that live underground, so are seldom seen.  Though they stay close to their burrows, they're able to climb trees. In evolutionary terms they're ancient; they lack the ability to sweat, and they need to live near cool water. They sometimes eat conifer bark and damage tree seedlings, so they have been the target of Forest Service extermination campaigns.

red tree vole graphic

Photo: Stephen Destefano,
US Geological Survey

 Probably the most consequential rodent in the Doug is the Red Tree Vole. It is consequential because, within its range, it is a major food of the Northern Spotted Owl. It is also a prey species for Fishers, Martens and weasels.
The Red Tree Vole is a "medium sized" vole (6 to 8 inches long, including the tail), which is a dark brown when immature, but increases its reddish color as it matures.
Red tree voles are largely arboreal and build their nests (primarily the outside edges of Douglas-fir needles) on suitable foundations (nests of birds or other arboreal mammals, or suitable parts of the live crowns of trees) in Douglas-fir, western hemlock, grand fir, and Sitka spruce, species that serve as a source of food. The Douglas-fir needles are its major source of food.

douglas squirrel graphic

Photo: Kathy Munsel,
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

 This is the Douglas Squirrel, like the Douglas-fir, it is named for David Douglas. It is larger than the Red Tree Vole (13 inches instead of 8 inches) and dines on conifer seeds instead of needles.
The Douglas Squirrel is also preyed upon by Spotted Owls, Fishers and every other predator within the Doug.

Other mammals that might be found in the Doug, but not featured here, include, but are not limited to, three species of foxes (Red, Gray Fox and Sierra-Nevada Red Fox), coyotes, bobcats, racoons, two species of skunk, several species of rabbits, several other species of squirrels, perhaps ten species of bats, including the silver haired bat and the long-eared myotis, who primarily frequent coniferous forests, and porcupines.

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